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Screening Process

Before clients are admitted to the TDTC program they are subject to an intensive screening process.The process has 6 phases:

1. Crown screening

Public safety is the primary focus of Crown screening. Care is taken to ensure that violent offenders and large-scale drug traffickers are not admitted. Screening is based on:

Client Application

Application Questionnaire

Any additional information an applicant chooses to submit

Prosecution brief

Criminal history

Police input

2. Preliminary addictions assessment

This brief assessment is conducted by a TDTC Court Liaison and takes place in the cells at Old City Hall or TDTC courtroom.

3. TDTC team pre-court discussion

Pre-court discussions take place before the TDTC sits and includes input from various stakeholders:

Crown

Court Liaison workers

Probation

Duty Counsel/Defence Counsel

TDTC Judge

4. In-court interview by the TDTC judge

A frank discussion with the TDTC judge gives applicants a solid understanding of the program.

Rigorous schedule

Rights that must be waived in order to participate

Motivation for entering the program

If the judge is satisfied that the applicant is willingly applying, understands his/her rights and meets the eligibility criteria, the applicant pleads guilty to their offence and is released on a TDTC bail. (This includes a 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. curfew.)

5. In-depth addiction assessment at CAMH

6. 30-day assessment period

Once CAMH is satisfied that the applicant qualifies for the program, the applicant begins treatment and participating in the program on a provisional basis for 30 days. Within that period if the participant decides not to continue, or if the TDTC determines the program is not appropriate for the participant, the applicant may choose to return to the criminal justice system, strike their guilty plea and face their charges through the regular court system.

After the 30 days, if the applicant is formally accepted into the program, the option to have their guilty plea struck is relinquished.